This archive report was first published on 7 July 2021.
Published on July 7, 2021, a foreigner visiting Kenya shared his thoughts on why our cities are not welcoming to visitors. He pointed out that apart from unclear road signage, our cities are more business-oriented than people-friendly.
‘Cities are for pedestrians to walk around, admire history, take coffee and relax. That is why most cities have parks or even benches where you can sit and rest,' he said.
However, our cities have metal spikes on anything that looks like a seat to idlers, making it difficult for people to relax and enjoy the city.
One way to make our cities more welcoming is to have more people live in the city centre. This would give the city real owners and make it more people-friendly.
Another solution is to have designated buses take pedestrians to the city centre for free, reducing traffic and making it easier for people to access the city.
Creating more spaces where one can sit and relax is also essential. For example, where does one go during an office break? Most of our options are going to a hotel for some tea.
Lastly, cities like Nairobi need an elected mayor to effectively manage the city's affairs. The effectiveness of Nairobi Metropolitan Services leaves no doubt an executive mayor is needed.
By bringing people together, cities stir competition and spawn new ideas. New enterprises are started and old ones expanded. I think that is the reason very few patents are registered in the rural areas.
